Taiwan: A Political History
I picked up Taiwan: A Political History by Denny Roy while I was browsing idly in the Munk Center library – looking for something to read over an impending Chinese lunch. In fact, I’ve wanted to know more about Taiwan’s history for quite a while, and this was a good opportunity. Good book – told me a lot of things that I didn’t know.
- How Taiwan wasn’t regarded as part of China throughout history, and emigration was even forbidden by the Chinese government.
- The struggles (and sometimes conviviality) between Chinese settlers and native populations
- How China gave up Taiwan to Japan under the terms of the Treaty of Shimonoseki of 1895
- Taiwan under Japan, almost fifty years. The transformation from disparate ethnic groups to a feeling of Taiwanness. Trying to control the natives. Forced use of the Japanese language. Taiwanese who struggled against/collaborated with Japanese. Rapid modernization. Not part of Japan, not rights of Japanese citizen – occupied territority.
- Still lot’s of experimentation with self-government, gradually gained more representation. Especially towards the war, when Japan was loosing legitimacy. Preparation for later democracy… Some Taiwanese fight for Japan in war.
- Japanese leaving and Chiang Kai-Shek’s people taking over (before they have to abandon the mainland).
- Taiwanese seen as traitors (even though China gave them willingly to Japan), “not to be trusted”… Treated very poorly.
- KMT moves to island. Separation mainlanders / taiwanese (those who had been there before 1949).
- Military dictatorship. Mainlanders in most positions of power.
- China would have invaded if not for the Korea war? This also makes US care more about fate of Taiwan.
- Initially China was more positive about rapproachment, Taiwan was the tough one. Cut diplomatic ties with countries that recognized PRC unilaterally etc.
- UN – after several years of Albania rising the issue, finally accepts PRC. US tries to convince Taiwan to accept dual representation, but they issue ultimatum. Leave UN, and all UN organizations, hours before the vote (voluntarily).
- Death of Chiang Kai-Shek 1975, son Chiang Ching-Kong. Gradual move towards democracy. Democratic Progress Party first independent party. Then president elected by people.
- First Lee Deng-Hui: did a lot of good, but quelled inner-party democracy, a bit of a Machiavellian. Very unpopular with mainland.
- Chen Shui-Bian, first non-KMT president. Firebrand. First president born in Taiwan.
255 p.
